Dexter hoops slowed by 'Cat gridiron success - for now

Then-Dexter High School sophomore forward Devin Turnbo pulls down a rebound against Malden last season at Malden.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

The good news emanating from Dexter High School athletics is that the Bearcat football program is involved in a historically successful season.

The bad news for the Bearcat boys basketball season – at least for now – is that the football program is involved in a historically successful season.

With Dexter playing for an MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 football title today, the Bearcat boy’s basketball program has had to endure two weeks of practice without nine of its expected players within the program, five of which are expected to contribute to the varsity squad.

Junior Devin Turnbo was a significant contributor along the baseline a year ago for the Bearcat basketball team, and sophomore move-in (from Poplar Bluff) Elijah Ibrahim, who plays alongside Turnbo on the football field, is also expected to be a very solid contributor once hoop season gets underway.

After graduating six seniors from a highly successful squad (20 wins and an MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 championship) in 2022-23, the Bearcats endured their first losing season (9-18) in eight years last season.

“We definitely got some experience underneath our belt from last year,” veteran Dexter coach Chad Allen said this summer after watching his team compete in a game.

The Bearcats graduated just two seniors from last year’s team, so Allen is hoping experience, coupled with a much-improved defense, will lift his program back to its winning ways.

“We got some guys back,” Allen said of six varsity returnees. “So, we just have to keep getting better.”

Then-Dexter High School junior guard Tucker Temples makes a pass to a teammate against Malden last season at Malden. (Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com)

Turnbo is a strong 6-foot forward and leads the Bearcats along with guards Tucker Temples (senior), John Sepulvado (junior), and Gibson Booker (junior).

“Devin is such a great athlete,” Allen said last season. “He can jump and he’s strong.”

Sepulvado is a versatile, athletic guard who can score the ball, as well as dish it out to open teammates like Temples and Booker, both of whom can shoot very well from the perimeter.

“He is really heady,” Allen said of Temples last season. “He’s not fast by any means, but he just gets things done.

“He really didn’t shoot the ball that well (as a sophomore). He has just really come into his game this past year.”

The Bearcats took a big step back defensively last season and allowed the opposition to score nearly 57 points per game. This offseason, Allen spent a lot of time focused on improving in that area.

“We’re just trying to get better defensively,” Allen said this summer. “I think the (man defense) will pay off.”

Last year, the Bearcats played a lot of 1-2-2 zone defense, and Allen said that could happen again this season, even though he has worked on man defense during this off-season.

“Even if we do play that 1-2-2,” Allen explained, “I think our work (on man) will make our zone better, too.”

Dexter lost varsity player Hunter Massey to Bernie High School in the offseason but does return sophomore guard Will Guethle, junior guard Carter Stone, junior guard Gavin McMullin, sophomore guard Langston Werneck, sophomore guard Justus Lovelady, junior forward Landon Annesser, and sophomore forward Brayden Vaughn.

Guethle, Werneck, and Annesser are each pivotal players in Bearcat football's success for the time being.

Dexter is scheduled to compete in the Cape Central Jamboree on Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. with its regular season opening game against Charleston on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bearcat Event Center.